GAZA (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank released a report on Tuesday quoting a Palestinian held by Israel as saying he had been snatched while visiting Egypt's Sinai region last month.Full story

The first direct talks in three years between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have began, and Secretary of State John Kerry says the leaders have set a goal of reaching a peace deal within the next 9 months. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss.

Egypt's new government has imposed the toughest border restrictions on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip in years, sealing smuggling tunnels, blocking most passenger traffic and causing millions of dollars in economic losses. Full story

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Top Talkers: President Obama has touched down in the West Bank city of Ramallah, meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile, militants are said to have fired four rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The Morning Joe panel -- including Mike Barnicle, the Council on Fore

Ambassador Dennis Ross, the point man on the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians during both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, joins guest host Joy Reid in a discussion over the United States’ role in negotiating peace in the Middle East and President Obama’s pos

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Palestinian members of security forces loyal to Hamas stand guard on the border between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip July 5, 2013. Egyptian security forces closed the Rafah border crossing and state media said it would reopen on Saturday. Security sources said Islamist gunmen opened fire on El-Aris

A member of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas rides in a pickup truck as he patrols the border area between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip July 1, 2013. Egyptian soldiers and members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas are on alert to guard the border area after massive protests in

Members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas patrol the border area between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip July 1, 2013. Egyptian soldiers and members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas are on alert to guard the border area after massive protests in Egypt, Hamas officials said. RE

An Egyptian soldier keeps guard on the border between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip July 1, 2013. Egyptian soldiers and members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas are on alert to guard the border area after massive protests in Egypt, Hamas officials said. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZ